Annals Of Work Exposures and Health最新文献

{"title":"Cleaning as high-risk activity for respiratory particulate exposure during additive manufacturing of sand moulds and its preceding silica sand coating process.","authors":"Ntoko Lucas Matlhatsi, Sonette du Preez, Cornelius J Van Der Merwe, Stephanus J L Linde","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaf010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a known cause of respiratory diseases, such as silicosis and lung cancer. Binder jetting additive manufacturing (AM) uses silica sand coated with sulphonic acid as feedstock material and operators are potentially exposed to RCS during various activities associated with AM. This includes the cleaning of the AM machine and associated equipment. This study aimed to investigate particulate exposures associated with additive manufacturing of sand moulds and its preceding silica sand coating process.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The particle size distribution (PSD) and particle shape analysis of different forms of silica sand (virgin, coated, and used) was determined using a Malvern Morphologi G3 automated microscope and the structural characteristics was measured using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Personal exposure and area monitoring for airborne respirable dust and RCS were performed using MDHS 14/4 and NIOSH 7602, while real-time particle number concentrations of 0.3 to 10 µm sized particles was measured using the TSI Aerosol Particle Counter (APC). Monitoring was performed for 2 operators over 8 d and included 3 d of coating, one day of cleaning the AM machine, and 4 d of printing during which 3 identical parts were manufactured.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>According to the PSD analysis, virgin and used silica sand particles were mostly in the respirable size range (d(0.9) = 3.98 ± 0.72 µm; and d(0.9) = 6.51 ± 2.71 µm, respectively), while coated sand was mostly in the inhalable size fraction d(0.5) = 29.76 ± 42.91 µm). The wt% results of the XRD analysis for the bulk virgin, coated and used silica sand were 97.3%, 92.6%, and 96.8% quartz, respectively. Personal exposure to RCS exceeded the exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 when the operator used compressed air to clean the coating machine's filter (0.112 mg/m3) and exceeded the action level on the day the AM machine was cleaned (0.70 mg/m3). The results for real-time particle number concentrations of 0.3 to 10 µm sized particles showed peaks while the cleaning activities such as dry sweeping were performed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The personal exposure to RCS was the highest on days when cleaning activities that used compressed air and dry sweeping took place. The high quartz content of the silica sand feedstock material and the respirable size of the virgin and used silica sand particles means that cleaning activities pose an RCS exposure risk to AM operators. Nine recommendations are made to reduce exposure to RCS during cleaning activities.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143742077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of occupational testicular radiation exposure with offspring sex ratio.","authors":"Yasukazu Hijikata, Tsukasa Kamitani, Yosuke Yamamoto, Takahiro Itaya, Yoshinori Matsuoka, Koichi Morota, Haruki Funao, Masayuki Miyagi, Tadatsugu Morimoto, Haruo Kanno, Akinobu Suzuki, Yoshihisa Kotani, Ken Ishii","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxae093","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The association between paternal occupational radiation exposure and the sex ratio of offspring remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to explore testicular radiation exposure in spine surgeons and its association with their offspring's sex ratio.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Minimally Invasive Spine Treatment Society in Japan administered a survey in October 2020. Male surgeons were divided into high- and low-radiation exposure groups according to the type of lead protectors used during the time frame surrounding the child's conception. Apron-type lead protectors were associated with high exposure, while no radiation or using a coat-type protector was considered low exposure. Risk ratios were calculated via generalized estimating equations with a log link binomial distribution. A secondary analysis was conducted wherein the high-exposure group was further divided into 2 categories based on whether they were in a posture that facilitated exposure during the procedures.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 209 male surgeons participated, providing responses regarding 436 children, of which 308 and 128 were associated with high and low radiation exposure, respectively. There were more female children in the high-exposure group (53% versus 39%). The adjusted risk ratio for the child being female with high exposure was 1.35 (95% CI: 1.04 to 1.73). A dose-response relationship was observed: the adjusted risk ratios for high exposure with and without an exposure-prone posture were 1.36 (1.04 to 1.78) and 1.30 (0.96 to 1.78), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>High radiation exposure to the testes is associated with a lower male-sex ratio in offspring. Medical professionals using radiation should ensure proper radiation protection.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143676665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Demographic differences in facial anthropmetric data from 3D scans and implications for respirator fit.","authors":"Kayna Hobbs-Murphy, William J Brazile, Kristen Morris, John Rosecrance","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaf012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>In response to limitations in foundational anthropometric research efforts as well as the increasingly diversifying workforce, researchers have attempted to define the presence or absence of differences in respirator-related facial measurements between different demographic groups. The purpose of the present study was to assess the presence of differences in facial measurements from 3D scans related to respirator fit, based on demographic factors of gender, race/ethnicity, and age in a sample of 2,022 3D scans.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three-dimensional (3D) body scanning technology was used to gather facial measurement data. Principal components analysis (PCA) and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were employed to determine the presence or absence of differences in measurements from 3D scans between the demographic groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results indicated that measurements from 3D scans related to respirator fit were significantly different for all groups within each demographic category (gender, race/ethnicity, and age).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest that demographic factors such as gender, race/ethnicity, and age have a significant impact on facial measurements from 3D scans, which has implications for respirator fit and design considerations.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143662045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Overview of historical occupational exposure to trichloroethylene in China.","authors":"Jia Nie, Calvin B Ge, Nathaniel Rothman, Wei Hu, Roel Vermeulen, Qing Lan, Susan Peters","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae103","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a carcinogen that has been causally linked to kidney cancer and possibly other cancer sites including the liver and lymphatic system. Its use in China has increased since the early 1990s due to the growing metal and electronic industries. We aimed to summarize the major sources of occupational exposure to TCE over time in China.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Occupational TCE exposure assessments were extracted from both the Chinese and English scientific literature, as well as from industrial hygiene surveys performed in Guangdong, Tianjin, and Hong Kong. Weighted mean concentrations were summarized by occupation and industry.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We extracted over 12,412 measurements from 55 industries and 35 occupations across China since 1976, of which at least 201 were from case reports. More than half of the measurements were derived from 4 industries, including \"manufacture of footwear\" (29%), \"manufacture of electronic components and boards\" (17%), \"manufacture of games and toys\" (14%), and \"manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment\" (13%). Several occupations, including \"electronic-equipment assemblers,\" \"metal-, rubber-, and plastic-products assemblers,\" \"metal finishing-, plating-, and coating-machine operators,\" \"precision-instrument makers and repairers,\" \"printing-machine operators,\" and \"ore and metal furnace operators\" were identified as having high risks of TCE exposure, with either pooled weighted mean task-based or full-shift concentrations over 150 mg/m3 over the years. TCE exposure levels varied across different occupations and changed over time. In 1990 and earlier, 1991 to 2000, the exposure levels were at their highest with pooled weighted mean task-based concentrations of 202.8 and 242.9 mg/m3, respectively. Subsequently, the level decreased to 118.7 mg/m3 from 2001 to 2010 before increasing again to 216.0 mg/m3 from 2011 onwards. This overall trend was also observed for \"electronic-equipment assemblers\" and \"metal finishing-, plating-, and coating-machine operators.\" However, for \"precision-instrument makers and repairers,\" the exposure levels consistently declined over the years.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Over the past few decades, degreasing-related occupations, such as \"electronic-equipment assemblers\" and \"metal finishing-, plating-, and coating-machine operators\" have been consistently identified as being at high risk of significant TCE exposure and continued to warrant attention. Identifying high-risk industries and occupations can inform the development of targeted interventions and regulations to mitigate TCE exposure. Furthermore, enhancing the quality and coverage of exposure measurement data in occupational settings will advance epidemiological investigations in occupational health.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"251-260"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11911510/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143031880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Annals of Work Exposures and Health Performance, 2024.","authors":"Rachael M Jones","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf001","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"231-232"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143413279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reply to Letter to the Editor by Driscoll et al.","authors":"Hans Kromhout, John W Cherrie, Martie van Tongeren","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf004","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"344-345"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143416941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimating the time-varying emission rate of peracetic acid.","authors":"Ryan Hines, Chun-Yu Chen, Mark Nicas, Gurumurthy Ramachandran","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae100","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae100","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of peracetic acid (PAA) as a general disinfectant has seen increasing usage in recent years, and although it is a strong irritant, exposure monitoring for PAA may often be difficult due to relatively high costs and the potential for interferences by other co-occurring chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide. These issues with exposure monitoring make modeling a potentially useful tool in exposure assessment of PAA if model parameters can be accurately determined. This study estimates the time-varying mass emission rate of PAA for use in exposure modeling by using the small spill model and examines the effect of various environmental conditions on the PAA evaporation rate, including surface roughness/substrate, general ventilation rate, and local wind speed. The relatively high evaporation rate constant (1.18 min-1) determined did not vary significantly with these parameters, suggesting it is applicable across a wide range of common environmental conditions. In addition, in a controlled chamber setting, the first-order decay rate constant for PAA in air was determined to be 0.5 h-1. The corresponding half-life of 83 min is approximately 4 times longer than previous estimates. This decay rate should be accounted for in future modeling and exposure assessments. To evaluate the estimated evaporation rate, trials were conducted in a highly controlled exposure chamber using conditions similar to those found in healthcare settings to compare predicted modeled concentrations to those made by a real-time detection instrument, SafeCide 2.0 (ChemDAQ, Inc.). The results of the trials indicate that the evaporation rate constant and well-mixed room model perform well in predicting the concentration of PAA over a range of conditions. Moreover, the modeling results and measured concentrations across all trials indicate a high potential for overexposure to PAA. Therefore, exposure controls must be adequate when considering the use of PAA as a general disinfectant.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"297-309"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142930484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Desktop 3D printers in the workplace: use, emissions, controls, and health.","authors":"Samantha Hall, Jade Sumner, Graeme Hunwin, Samuel Martell, Ian Pengelly, Veronica Brown, James Staff, James Forder, Delphine Bard","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae101","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae101","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Desktop three-dimensional (3D) printers are used in businesses, schools, and colleges, and are generally of an unenclosed design which may give rise to injuries or inhalation exposure to emissions of small particles (<1 µm) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The aim of this work was to explore the health risks related to the use of desktop 3D printers in workplaces in the United Kingdom. A digital survey on the use of desktop 3D printers was completed voluntarily and anonymously between February and June 2023, receiving 146 responses. The most common technology and material used for printing were \"filament deposition\" and \"polylactic acid,\" respectively. The median number of printers an organisation had in use in one room was 2. A median of 10 people could be in the room during printer operation. A range of finishing techniques were reportedly applied to the printed object including the use of hand tools and solvents. General room ventilation was the most common exposure control measure stated. Measurements of airborne particles and VOCs were taken at 2 sites: a university and an engineering workshop. Airborne particle number concentrations (<1 µm) did not significantly increase above background levels when the printers were operating at either site. At the university, where there was the largest number of printers in operation, some VOCs could be attributed to the printing process; however, concentrations remained low. Evidence of associated respiratory symptoms was gathered by asking volunteers at the 2 sites visited to complete a questionnaire. Seventeen volunteers across the 2 sites completed the survey. None stated that they had ever experienced acute symptoms from working with 3D printers. However, they did report symptoms which included tiredness, dry/cracked skin, headache, itchy/runny nose, and a cough, with some stating that these improved on their days off. Overall, limited evidence from published literature and this study suggests that exposure to desktop 3D printing emissions could be associated with short-term respiratory health symptoms. However, static measurements in 2 workplaces where multiple desktop 3D printers were in use did not show airborne particle number concentrations in the room rising above background levels and concentrations of measured VOCs were all low. These findings may be due to effective ventilation and other control measures which over half of the workplaces surveyed stated that they had in place.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"284-296"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142885211","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Nano Exposure Quantifier: a quantitative model for assessing nanoparticle exposure in the workplace.","authors":"Ruby Vermoolen, Remy Franken, Tanja Krone, Neeraj Shandilya, Henk Goede, Hasnae Ben Jeddi, Eelco Kuijpers, Calvin Ge, Wouter Fransman","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae104","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exposure to manufactured nanomaterials (MNs) is a growing concern for occupational health and safety. Reliable methods for assessing and predicting MN exposure are essential to mitigate associated risks. This study presents the development of the Nano Exposure Quantifier (NEQ), a mechanistic model designed to assess airborne MN exposure in the workplace. By utilizing a dataset of 128 MN measurements from existing exposure studies, the model demonstrates its effectiveness in estimating MN exposure levels for particles smaller than 10 µm. The NEQ provides estimates in terms of particle number concentration accompanied by a 95% confidence interval (CI), enabling a comprehensive assessment of MN exposure. The NEQ includes 2 quantitative models: a simplified tier 1 model and a more comprehensive tier 2 model. Both tier 1 and tier 2 models exhibit robust performance, with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.57 and 0.62, respectively. The models exhibit a moderate level of error, as indicated by residuals' standard deviation of 4.10 for tier 1 and 3.90 for tier 2. The tier 1 model demonstrates a slightly higher overestimation bias (1.15) compared to the tier 2 model (0.54). Overall, the NEQ offers a practical and reliable approach for estimating MN exposure in occupational settings. Future validation studies will investigate the impact of initial calibration efforts, heteroscedasticity, and further refine the model's accuracy.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"323-336"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11911509/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143063141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The WHO/ILO Joint Estimates approach to occupational risk factor and burden of disease estimation: providing actionable evidence with impact across sectors in countries.","authors":"Tim Driscoll, Michelle C Turner, Paul J Villeneuve, Paul T J Scheepers, Vivi Schlünssen, Bochen Cao, Natalie C Momen, Frank Pega","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae107","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae107","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"337-343"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11911508/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143370349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}